In celebration of the 113th National Day of the Republic of China, a cultural visiting group dispatched by the Overseas Community Affairs Council of Taiwan brought a heartwarming performance titled “Our Hometown, Our Love” to hundreds of overseas compatriots on September 1st at the Wang Center for Performing Arts in the Flushing community college. The theater was fully packed as the skilled performers wowed the audience with their exquisite talents, sparking enthusiastic applause throughout the show.
This year’s cultural delegation was organized by the “National Taiwan College of Performing Arts” and the “Taiwan Special Skills Troupe”. The members of the performing group were all young talents who had undergone rigorous training for over eight years, excelling in their respective fields. They showcased Taiwan’s cultural soft power through a blend of traditional and innovative artistic performances, forging strong emotional connections between overseas Taiwanese and Taiwan, as they jointly celebrated the National Day.
The organizers, the “New York Area Taiwanese College Alumni Association” and the “Asian Future Foundation,” led by Lin Ying-Chun, expressed gratitude to the Overseas Community Affairs Council for annually selecting Taiwan’s outstanding cultural groups to tour overseas before the National Day, bringing solace to compatriots. This tradition has continued for several decades. Under Lin’s leadership, the audience enthusiastically cheered, “Long live the Republic of China! Taiwan, keep it up!”
Lee Chih-Chiang, the Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, mentioned that he had been in office for a month and a half, visiting four states and fully experiencing the warmth of the overseas Taiwanese community in the New York area. Despite it being the second day of the Labor Day weekend, the full house attendance reflected the strong attachment of overseas compatriots to the Republic of China.
This performance seamlessly integrated the essence of traditional acrobatics and unique features into theatrical performances, combining elements of drama, dance, music, and Taiwan’s distinctive temple parade cultural performances to tell Taiwan’s stories. It showcased the different facets of Taiwan – from its adherence to traditional culture, distinctive folk characteristics, to its vibrant modern development. Wang Xi-Zhong, the head of the Taiwan Special Skills Troupe, mentioned that the program narrated the hardships and endeavors of early ancestors and presented Taiwan’s unique temple festival and folk culture.
Many compatriots brought along the next generation to witness the spectacular show, leaving them spellbound and immersed in the beauty of the performance.